"This was the intensity we needed to bounce back and get that first conference win," said Drake head coach Phil McDaniel. "We blocked the ball well and played solid defense in the back row and those things allowed us to be effective in transition."

Game one was back and forth until Drake broke open a 16-16 tie, ending the game on a 9-2 run led by five Bradley attack errors and kills from senior outside hitter Emily Madden (Van Meter, Iowa (Adel DeSoto Minburn), sophomore middle blocker Michelle Reidy (Dubuque, Iowa/Wahlert Catholic) and junior outside hitter junior outside hitter Alisa DeBerg Roth (Hudson, Iowa/Hudson).

After another deadlock at 14-14 in game two, the Bulldogs went on a 6-0 run to take a 20-14 lead. The run was fueled by three Braves attack errors, a Reidy kill, a redshirt freshman Emily Heffernen (Manchester, Iowa/West Delaware)/DeBerg Roth block and a sophomore defensive specialist Erika Price (Littleton, Colo./Dakota Ridge) service ace.

Drake went on an early run 5-0 in game three, breaking an 8-8 tie to take a 13-8 lead. The Bulldogs would hold the lead for the remainder of the game, scoring the final four points on two kills from Reidy and a kill and service ace from sophomore outside hitter Mikayla Sims (Waterloo, Iowa/East).

Reidy had a team-leading .440 attack percentage, 12 kills and five blocks. DeBerg Roth and Sims added six kills and two blocks apiece. Madden ended the match with five kills, four digs and two blocks.

Senior setter Chelsea Lauersdorf (Watertown, Wis./Watertown) and sophomore setter Caitlin Johnson (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore Community) split time at setter, recording 17 assists each. Junior libero Alana Wittenburg (Redlyn, Iowa/Wapsie Valley) led the defense with 24 digs, followed by senior defensive specialist Lindsay Schryver (Williams Bay, Wis./Williams Bay) with seven and Johnson with six.

The Bulldogs edged Bradley in kills (39-37), attack percentage (.330-.078), assists (37-33), digs (58-57) and blocks (6-0). The Braves held a 5-3 advantage in service aces.

Drake continues MVC play, traveling to Illinois State Friday (Sept. 25) for a 7 p.m. match and to Indiana State Saturday (Sept. 26) for a 6 p.m. match.

"We have two more tough conference opponents and we are on the road this time so we won't have that home crowd to support us," commented McDaniel. "Both teams play well in their home building so we need to have a good week of practice and maintain our focus."